Control circuit for vending machines



Nov 17, 1953 JOHNSTON CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed June l2, 1951 INVENTR. LEllTH JOHNSTON BY f M);

ATTORNEY HNS Q 2 IUPDJU 01S- IULJU b NN. AWN. @lle ww VIH. bw

Patented Nov. 17, 1953 CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR VENDING MACHINES Leith Johnston, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Automatic Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application June 12, 1951, Serial No. 231,141

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a control circuit for vending machines. While one embodiment of this circuit is shown which registers coins in the denominations of 1 cent, 5 cents, 10 cents, and cents and issues stamps in denominations of 1 cent, 2 cents, 3 cents, 6 cents, and 15 cents, it is obvious that this circuit with slight modiiications could be used with other types of vending machines, and for registering other amounts. It is assumed that the vending machine herein described has individual coin chutes and rejectors and that these chutes have magnetically controlled shutters which prevent the insertion of coins when necessary. It is further assumed that the machine has magnetically controlled clutches which issue one stamp at a time of the denominations referred to.

An essential part of this circuit is a rotary switch, with a bank of four levels of 25 points arranged to provide two levels of 50 points, capable of being stepped both forward and backward. Credits and debits are registered on this switch which is stepped in one direction by a credit magnet and in the opposite direction by a debit magnet. These magnets are operated by pulses from cam switches associated with the coin chutes and with the dispensing control push keys, The type of switch used here is a rotary switch without wipers having a ratchet of a certain number of teeth and a cam associated with this ratchet having a certain number of lobes to provide a number of normal positions.

The circuit provides for the transmission of as many pulses through the credit magnet as there are cents in the coin deposited. Itis designed to prevent the simultaneous operation of the stepping switches, to prevent the insertion of additional coins until the one inserted has been fully registered, and to prevent more coins being deposited than will add up to 49 cents. It .further prevents the functioning of the push keys for issuing stamps when the creditpart of the switch is busy and also prevents the insertion of any coins when the debit part of the switch is active as it would be when a stamp is being issued.

The single figure of the drawings is the schematic drawing of an electrical circuit which controls the operation of a postage stamp vending machine. At the left is a four-level two way uniselector switch with wipers 9|; 92, 93, and 94 arranged to touch contacts on a bank of four levels 6|, 62, 63 and 64. The switch is shown in normal position The wipers are stepped nl clockwise by credit magnet and counterclockwise by debit magnet 20.

The credit control circuit is shown in the upper half of the drawing. Coin contacts IBI, |92, |03, and |54 are associated with Denny, nickel, dime and quarter coin chutes, respectively, and are closed when the proper coin is inserted in the chute. When a penny is inserted, a circuit is closed from ground through contact IDI through the coil of the credit magnet 95 to negative battery so that each time one cent is deposited the magnet operates once and steps wipers 9|, 92, 93 and 95 of the selector switch in a credit direction. When a nickel is deposited a circuit-is closed from ground through contact |02 and the coil of stepping magnet 5 of cam switch I2 to negative battery. Cam switches I2, I3, I4, 26, 2l, 28 and 29 are stepping switches with pawls on their armatures turning ratchets. Each switch has a cam mounted on the same shaft as the ratchet. Magnet 5, on deenergization, steps -lobe cam 5 of cam switch I2 oi-normal so that insulated armature 9 makes contacts lI, i2, and T3, the cam springs of the cam switch. A circuit is thus closed from ground through break contact 96 of the credit magnet, break contacts 45 and 8| of cam switches I4 and I3, make contact 7| of switch I2, and through the coil of stepping magnet 5 to negative battery and magnet 5 operating makes contact 'I and thereby closes a circuit from ground through contacts 'I2 and l through the coil of credit magnet 95 to negative battery. This steps the rotary switch clockwise and also opens contact 96 of the circuit to stepping magnet 5. Magnet 5 releases, thereby stepping switch I2 and breaking contact 'l which opens the circuit to the credit'magnet.A When credit magnet 95 is deenergized, contact S6 makes, magnet 5 isenergzed and another pulse is transmitted to the credit magnet. AThis cycle is repeated until armature 9 reaches a normal position on cam Brand breaks contactsr 'II and l2. Cam 8 has 8 lobes and is stepped" by'a pawl which engages a ratchet having 48 teeth. No pulse is transmitted on the rst step because contact 'I breaks before contacts '|I and l2 make on deenergization of magnet 5. Therefore, in order to send five pulses to the credit magnet there are 6 teeth on the ratchet for each lobe on the cam. y

Dimes and quarters similarly operate cam switches I3 and I4, respectively. Cam 34 inv switch I 3 has 4 lobes and is associated with a i4-tooth ratchet which operatesmagnet 95 ten times for each operation of contact |03 While depositor the credit he has established in the machine up to 24 cents.

The rst II contacts of bank 62. are. strapped. As wiper 9| leaves bank 6|, wiper 92 touches the 10, in the drawing. These 24 lamps indicateY to the.v

rst contact of bank 62 and closes a circuit from ground through wiper 92 and strap 1,4vl through shutter magnet 65 to negative battery. Magnet 4 cam 38 and a 49-tooth ratchet, and 29 has a 3` lobe cam 39 and a 48-tooth ratchet.

After any amount of money up to 49 cents has been deposited and the credit established stamps may be issued by depressing the push keys for each stamp desired. Bank levels 63 and 64 are wired so that push keys for stamps of a value greaterl than theA amount of the credit stored do not function electrically to issue stamps. If l cent credit has been established and the 1 cent p ush key is depressed, a circuit is made from groundv through contact 96 of credit magnet 95 through break contact 56 of common shutter magnetv 55;.. break .contacts 99, 59, 49, and 24 of switches V29, 28, 21 and 26, through wiper 93, contact I6 on bank 63, contact 88 of push key I Y and through debit magnet 20 to negative battery.

65 closes contact 66 lighting lamp 61 which indicates a credit of 25 to 35 cents. The twelfth through sixteenth contacts of bank 62; are also strapped and whenever wiper 92 touches 01,16` 0f thesey contacts magnet 30 is energized and closes contact 32 which closesy a circuit from ground through contact 32 and magnet 15 to negative battery; Magnet 15 closes contact 16 and lights lamp, 11 which indicates a credit of 36 to 40 cents. Similarly, the seventeenth through twenty-first contacts n bank 62 are strapped and the wiper, touching one, energizes magnet 40 which closes contact 43 energizing magnet 85 which closes contactI 86 and lights lamp 81 which indicates a credit of 41 to 49 cents. The last four contacts on the bank are connected to magnet 59 which operates make contact 53 when energized, thereby lighting lamp 8 1.

The machine is designed to accept a maximum deposit of 49 cents. This limitation is effected by a, number of magnetic coin slot shutters. The shutter of the quarterl slot is closed by magnet 6,5 when a credit of 25 cents or more is established. Magnet 65 draws current either through contacts I to of bank 62, through contact 3| when magnet 30 is energized, or through contacts 4| when magnet 40 is energized, The dime slot shntter is; operated by magnet which draws currentl through contacts 32 or 42 when magnets 3Q or 40 are energized. Nickel slot shutter magnet 85,. draws current through contact 43 when magnet lons-energized. Magnet 55, is a common magnet which operates all shutters. When 46 cents or more has been deposited, current flows from ground through wiper 92, strap 4 and the coil of magnet 50 to negative battery. Magnet 50 closes` contact 5| which closes a circuit to magnet i5. Magnet 55 also may draw current from stepping switches I2, I3 and I4 through contacts 13, 84, or 49 when one of the switches is in an orfnormal position. This prevents other coins from being deposited and interrupting the crediting of the first coin deposited.

The, lower half of the drawing shows the debit control circuit.4 Wipers 93 and 94 of the 4-level rotary switch correspond to wipers 9| and 92, re-. spectively, and touch contacts in banks 63 and 6,4 corresponding to those in banks 6| and 62 touched by wipers 9 .I and 92.

Push keys I, 2, 3, 6, and I5 are interlocked mechanically to prevent more than one from being depressed at the same time. `Switches 26, 2 1, 2,0,and 29 are cam switches similar to switches I2, I3', and I4 of the credit control circuit shown aty the; top of,y the drawing. Switch 2 6 has a 16-lobe 35 and. a. lftwthrathet 21 has. a12r10he. 31 and: a. iftoothirawhet 2.a has a 'Hohe The current divides at the push key, part of it flowing through contact 89 to clutch magnet 60 which dispenses a 1 cent stamp. Release of the key releases debit magnet 20 causing the switch to step back one step. to the zero position and deenergizes the clutch rmechanism so that it again becomes operative. No current is available to the other push keys until more than l cent has been deposited. If two cents have been deposited wiper 93 will touch contact |1 which isI connected to push key 2. The operator may then elect to take a two cent stamp. or two one cent stamps. Key I may draw, current through break Contact |01 of key 2. 1f key 2 is depressed, a circuit is closed from ground through Contacts 96, 56, 99, 59, 49, 24,l I1 and |03, and through stepping magnet |05 ofv switch 26. toY negative battery. Current also ilows through contact |09 to clutch magnet 10 which dispensesI a two cent stamp. When key 2 is releasedV magnet |05 is deenergized and steps cam 3,6 off-normal making contacts 22, 2 3, and 63L Current flows from ground through break contactl 2|` of debit magnet 20, contact 22 and magnet |05, to negative battery. Magnet |05 closes contact |06 and current ows from ground through contacts 23 and |06 and debit magnet 20 tofneg'ative battery. This'pulse steps the wipers ofr the uniselector back one step and opens contact 27| interrupting the circuit to stepping magnet |05. |05 releases, stepping switch 26 another step Vand. openinvgthe circuit to magnet 20 which releasesy andl 'makes contact 2|. SwitchA 26 continues to 'step in this manner until it reaches a normal position'causing a 'second operation oi' magnet 20 andI af' second step of wipers 93 and 94. The switches of' higher denomination operate in theY same. manner when an adequate credit has beenestablished. Contacts, 69., 18, or `19 close a circuit which operates magnet when one of the. debit stepping switches is in 'an off-normal position. This closesv all: coin slots toi prevent simultaneous debiting and creditingfA When 46 cents or more. has been deposited the common .shutter'is also, op.. erated: by magnet Silby .etpreviously defined cir-4 cuit. -Whenfmagnet50 operated, contact 62 closesmaking a shunt around the common shutter so. that although contact` 5B is open, current is available tdwipers ilfarld` 94. The circuit may. be arranged so that the push keys close only a cir. cuit to. thev clutch, magnets. and. contacts associated' with; thev operation of' the machine to is. Sile the stamp. close a circuitto the magnet of the associatedsteppins switch to mit it. in an oir-` nQrmal Position Thiais a more positive circuit blut Iequllmole liil'lli lldiconiis.

As.' well..- as.' rendinsnmerchendise. this .machine mild used r\`42,. 1ei1dr'Services'brSubstitutins for the dispensing means an automatic timing device and a movie projector, sightseeing binoculars, rotating shoe shine brush, telephone paystation, radio or record player, or other coin operated device.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modiicatons as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

In a Vending machine having coin operated devices and dispensing means for dispensing merchandise or services, a step-by-step counting switch, a credit magnet and a debit magnet for operating said counting switch in opposite directions to indicate the difference between the value of the coins deposited and the Value of the merchandise or services dispensed, a cam, an operating magnet for rotating said cam, a series of contacts controlled by said cam, means for closing a circuit for said operating magnet to move said cam ofi-normal to operate said contacts, means whereby said last mentioned means is controlled by the deposit of a particular coin, a circuit including said credit magnet controlled by one of said cam contacts, another circuit including said operating magnet controlled by another of said cam contacts, a contact on each said magnets, each of said contacts included in the circuit of the other of said magnets, means 6 including said magnet contacts whereby said credit magnet and said operating magnet are energized alternately in said circuits to operate said counting switch and said cam an equal number of steps until said cam reaches a predetermined point, said cam contacts opened when said cam reaches said point to open the circuits controlled to thereby stop the rotation of said switch and said cam, a similar cam controlled by said dispensing means for operating said debit magnet a predetermined number of steps to step said counting switch a number of steps in the opposite direction dependent upon the value of the merchandise or service dispensed tothereby cause said switch to indicate the difference between the value of the coin deposited and the value of the merchandise or services so dispensed.

LEITH JOHNSTON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,235,301 Erickson July 31, 1917 2,384,585 Alexander Sept. 11, 1945 2,542,890 Basu et a1 Feb. 20, 1951 2,564,719 Powell Aug. 21, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 511,285 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1939 

